[Sorry for re-post. The first one seems to have gone through mangled. ]

re: Mark Twain Company (endorsements et al)
Isn't that the thinking behind this?

http://www.twainquotes.com/19081224.html

"The New York Times, December 24, 1908 MARK TWAIN TURN INTO A
CORPORATION"

See also :
http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Profiles/People_Profile/0,2540,43,00.html

"He even registered the name Mark Twain as a trademark and endorsed
numerous products, including cigars. (He also lent the Mark Twain name
to flour, a typewriter, a fountain pen, bourbon and beer. Biographer
Kaplan says this might have been done more for exposure than for
money.)"

Dave Davis